Senator Lito Lapid
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Lito Lapid voted for the conviction of Chief Justice Renato Corona Tuesday and explained his vote without a prepared speech.
Lapid said in Filipino that he was using only his conscience in deciding on his vote instead of citing laws “because the people will not believe me.”
Lapid also praised his fellow senators because he said they could articulate whatever came to their mind very well.
He said he was representing the masses who did not understand the law and who did not understand much English because he was “just a high school graduate from Pampanga.”
He said he felt pity for Corona when he testified but found Ilocos Norte Representative Rudolfo Farinas’ closing arguments more convincing.
“It was clear for me, Corona violated the constitution. He himself admitted to the amounts in his bank accounts,” Lapid said.
He later thanked and apologized to Corona because he took his oath as a senator before the Chief Justice.
“I thank him because I took my oath with him. Sorry, sorry, but my verdict is guilty,” Lapid said.